oxlabs said:Hey Bro! I don't know which techniques are used to mask doping, but I can't imagine what could be done in 20 or 30 min. to impact a test. If the issue is that Lance wanted to verify that the testing guy was legit first, I think that is valid. Lance is a celebrity and may have to deal with stalkers. I just don't like the idea of trying to crucify someone over a technicality.
It is not a technicality. It goes to the heart of the testing. If the athlete is allowed to "clean" his sample beforehand then the sample is worthless. It is like the police showing up at your door with a search warrant for drugs. You make them wait outside for thirty minutes, giving yourself time to flush your stash down the toilet. The search conducted afterwards is not worth anything.
If Armstrong wanted to verify the tester was legit then he should have waited in sight of him while his identity was verified. Instead he hid in the bathroom and did who knows what. He knowingly and intentionally evaded the testing protocol. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out reasons why he might have done so, especially with his proven history of drug use.